A future iPad Pro model is probably going to get an OLED display at some point in the future. Even after Apple’s transition to mini-LED, the rumor mill has not given up on OLED. And apparently neither has Apple. And a new report says the new display will be pretty durable and great to look at.
This is a follow up report from The Elec, which, earlier this week, reported that Apple’s OLED plans for the 12.9-inch iPad Pro have been pushed back to 2023 or 2024. According to this report, which is mostly about manufacturing partners, Apple is going to stick with its known partners: LG Display and Samsung Display. The original report also noted that Apple’s future OLED panels will feature an even broader range of refresh rates in the ProMotion display.
This report says that LG Display has been tapped to start things off, with expectations that the new 12.9-inch iPad Pro with an OLED panel will launch near the end of 2023 or sometime in 2024.
The real kicker, though, is what LG Display (and one would imagine Samsung, as these displays need to be on par with one another) is bringing to the table. According to the report, Apple’s future OLED panel will rely on LTPO TFT technology, which will make the display up to two times brighter than its current state. This change could also lead to to an extension to overall working life, up to four times longer.
One other interesting bit: the new OLED-equipped iPad Pro is said to use the same Gen 6 substrates that are installed in the iPhone 13 Pro and iPhone 13 Pro Max. Those smartphones have a refresh rate between 10Hz and 120Hz, depending what’s displayed on the screen. That leans into the expectation that the upcoming big tablet will have a wider range of refresh rates than what the ProMotion display already supports.
The iPad Pro isn’t the only tablet reportedly switching to OLED. There has been a rumor going around for a bit now that Apple also plans to bring the display technology to the iPad Air as well. However, while there were expectations that the device would launch in 2022, that’s apparently not the case any longer.
But now we’re apparently waiting until at least 2023 before we get that long-awaited OLED iPad. What do you think? Will it be worth the wait?